Safeguarding Your Home and its Contents From Flood Situations

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There Is Only One Type of Insurance Policy That Reimburses You for Flood Damage, and It’s Not Your Home Insurance

We believe that many of our neighbors in New Bedford MA and the surrounding communities assume incorrectly that their home insurance will provide for any damages resulting from a flood. This misconception is one that the team at Gilbert J. Costa works hard to dispel. Having flood insurance is the only option for safeguarding your home and its contents against a flood situation.

What actually qualifies as “flooding”? A flood situation describes any condition when water temporarily covers an area of land where you normally wouldn’t see it. The water can come from the ocean, lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, sewers, or simply an intense rainstorm. And, contrary to popular belief, flooding isn’t just an issue for coastal property or low-lying areas near water.

The types of floods that we have seen affect our Southeastern Massachusetts region include:

Flash floods from a highly intense rainstorm or a sudden massive snowmelt

Coastal floods from a severe storm front that creates high waves that flood the coastline

River floods from an extended rainstorm that leads to overflow of major rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds

Urban floods from a city sewage/drainage system at capacity that cannot drain away anymore rainfall

Dike or Dam break from a sudden release of water from a breach point that spreads out and flows to lower lying areas before slowly rising

At Gilbert J. Costa Insurance, we emphasize the message to our clients that no region is safe from flooding. According to www.floodsmart.gov, people located in areas considered to be moderate- to low-risk for flood submit more than 20 percent of National Flood Insurance Program claims.

In addition, flood risk can, and does, change over time and, subsequently, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) updates flood hazard maps across the country. And that’s exactly what is happening in our area. Towns undergoing flood map changes include New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester. It’s critical that you understand how these changes may affect your flood risk along with the impact to your flood insurance requirements.

I've been a customer of Gilbert J. Costa Insurance for 20 years and really appreciate all of the help and advice they have provided to me. They go above and beyond being an insurance agent. They treat customers like family and have their best interests in mind. Easy to contact and always knowledgeable and helpful, I highly recommend this agency.

Carla

East Freetown MA

Thank you so much for always taking great care of me! Your team at Gilbert J. Costa Insurance has always been wonderful to work with and I appreciate your expertise when it comes to helping me save money on all my personal and business policies. I highly recommend you to others for all their insurance needs.

Jessica

Owner, Tia Maria’s European Café, New Bedford MA

Costa Insurance is like the 'Cheers' bar, where everyone knows your name. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted with the most sincere welcome. They are professional, dependable, and eager to assist you. It's wonderful in this day and age to still have a local community business where you are treated with the utmost customer service.

Shelly

Acushnet MA

Flood Insurance Will Cover Many, But Not All, of the Structures on Your Property and Their Contents.

We Think This is Important Information for Every Homeowner to Know:

What’s Covered?

Actual cash value of contents in your home, e.g. furniture

Furnace and water heater

Washer and dryer

Items stored inside a structure above ground/grade

Usually 10% of your home’s flood insurance policy automatically applies to a detached garage at same address

What’s Not Covered?

Basement contents, including wall finishes

Sewer backup can be covered by a rider on home insurance policy

Items left outside, e.g. a grill

Vehicles may be covered by auto insurance

Portable storage units and their contents

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Disclaimer: Coverages cannot be activated, renewed, changed, or cancelled by email unless you receive direct written confirmation of a change from Gilbert J. Costa Insurance.